German Shepherd Dog

The Breed

The German Shepherd Dog is an energetic and athletic breed, but may take some time to warm up to his companions. Once familiar with adults and children, German Shepherds can be ideal family dogs, and fiercely devoted to protecting their people and home. German Shepherds are medium sized dogs, well known for their fearlessness and confidence as police K9 workers. Though they were initially bred for police and military work, today’s German Shepherd Dog is the second most popular breed for American families. Interestingly, the AKC notes that there is a sharp distinction between personalities in male and female German Shepherds, with each displaying decidedly masculine or feminine qualities.

German Shepherd Dog Collars

German Shepherd Dogs do well in leather or synthetic collars, and require a sturdy lead with solid hardware. The breed’s average neck size is 18” – 24”. See the Sport Dog Collars, Training Collars, and Outdoor Collars categories for collar ideas for German Shepherds.